City Breaks

St Patrick’s Day parades on the island of Ireland With parades and celebrations galore taking place across the island, Ireland is the best place to be this St Patrick’s day! The epicentre of the merriment is the huge St Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin (16th-19th March). This year’s National St Patrick’s Day parade, driven by community, diversity, youth and sustainability values, will be...

Growing up on the other side of Dublin Bay, Dún Laoghaire was only ever a place to go to get somewhere else – the short hop to Holyhead, the gateway to many a childhood adventure throughout England, France and beyond. And here I was again, rolling down the ramp at Dún Laoghaire marina into the still harbour waters, but this...

With the festive season well and truly under way and the attendant bustle and stress beginning to take its manic hold, isn't it time to consider getting away from it all to relax and unwind? No matter where you are in Ireland you're certain not to be too far away from the superb break that The Bridge House Hotel in...

Europe’s biggest Halloween festival is concocting a fabulous programme of folklore, frights, fun and feasting this autumn. The beautiful walled city of Derry~Londonderry will once again unleash the ancient Celtic spirits of Samhain as it celebrates Halloween from 28 – 31 October 2022. Now established as the biggest Halloween festival in Europe and voted the world's best Halloween destination in a...

There are lots of ways to enjoy St Patrick’s Day, from parades, parties and pints of Guinness to pilgrimage walks and hearty traditional Irish food. Ireland’s biggest festival is on the horizon and across the island towns and cities are gearing up for the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations (17 March). Fabulous festivals will take place in cities from Armagh in the north...

Macy Gray, Corienne Bailey Rae, Morcheeba, Matthew Halsall and Grammy award winning Kurt Elling are among the headline acts to perform at this year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival over the October bank holiday weekend (Thursday 26th October to Monday 30th October 2023). Tickets go on sale this Friday, 7th July, at 10:00am on www.guinnesscorkjazz.com. Celebrating its 45th year, the world-renowned festival will see its biggest...

With history dating back over 6,000 years, Armagh remains Ireland's ecclesiastical capital, boasting two magnificent cathedrals, one Roman Catholic, one Church of Ireland, both called St Patrick's. Armagh City is built on the foothills of the mountains that separate Ulster from Connacht and is very accessible as it is only 40 miles from Belfast and less than an hour-and-a-half drive...

OH DERRY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! But the LegenDerry Food and Drink scene ensures rosy cheeks all round It’s cold outside but Derry~Londonderry has oodles of yummy LegenDerry food and drink options to help us all stay warm this winter. From cosy cafes to fireside restaurants and street food marvels to artisan bakers, the walled city is bursting with unique food experiences...

Two days of festivities will see out the old year and ring in the new, as Dublin puts on a spectacular New Year’s Festival. Live music from top musicians, street entertainment, electrifying visual displays and an exciting Festival Village are just some of the ingredients that will make up Dublin’s dazzling two-day New Year’s Festival. On New Year’s Eve a host of...

As Bram Stoker’s gothic masterpiece Dracula reaches its 125th anniversary, Dublin prepares to paint the town red with vampirish bloodthirsty antics. This October the Bram Stoker Festival returns to Dublin (28 –31 October) after a two-year hiatus to celebrate Count Dracula and his creator in a weekend of ghastly thrills, spine-chilling spectacles and fun-filled frights. The world’s most famous vampire was the creation...